High school teammates join forces at UNT

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Four Prosper High School graduates help fill out the Mean Green football roster this year. Two of them have been friends and teammates since high school, a bond that continues eight years later.

Senior tight end Drew Miller and senior running back Bryan Monroe were two key components of the Prosper 2008 3A State Championship team. Since then, freshman offensive lineman Trevor Melugin and sophomore offensive linemen Michael Banogu have joined the Mean Green in the footsteps of their fellow teammates.

“I love them, I respect them, I’m proud of them and I’m really glad they’re here on this team,” head coach Dan McCarney said. “We will go back to Prosper to look for recruits frequently, often and all the time. As many times within the NCAA rule, we are going back to Prosper.”

In the last eight years, Prosper High skyrocketed in the world of Texas high school football with the 2008 championship and moved up to classification 4A in 2012. A couple players from the championship team have found their way to UNT.

In addition to the UNT players, Prosper High has produced other notable Division-I football players outside of those playing for UNT. Tight end Taylor Thompson was the school’s first NFL draftee when the Tennessee Titans picked him in the fifth round in 2012. Other notable names include quarterbacks Davis Webb and Javelle Allen, at Texas Tech University and the University of Arizona respectively.

Miller and Monroe played against each other in middle school, but got the chance to be teammates at Prosper High. Miller was a starter on the 2008 squad and played offense and defense, while Miller was voted team captain four straight years and earned multiple all-DFW team honors.

“It’s good knowing an old friend and someone you’ve already played with, because you know how they play and how they act,” Miller said.

After spending his freshman year in Missouri, Monroe decided to transfer back to Texas. Miller had already joined the Mean Green, which helped put UNT at the top of his list.

“We were good friends in high school and I talked with him before I came down here,” Monroe said. “It helped out in my decision a good bit. It was nice having someone I know on the team right away.”

Miller, a marketing senior, caught 18 passes last year and has three career touchdowns. Although Monroe did not play last year, McCarney said the kinesiology senior was recently placed on scholarship because of his work ethic Monday through Friday.

There’s a bond between the four Prosper graduates. There can be a lot of smack talk in the lockers about high school football, and Monroe said it helps to have your school represented.

Head coach Kent Scott has been in charge of the Prosper football program the past eight years and still heaps accolades on his former players.

“All four of those kids were impactful football players,” Scott said. “As good as [they are as] players, it doesn’t even touch who they are as individuals.”